After I graduated high school, I spent the following two years in a discipleship program. I remember dreading God's call to go into this program, because it went against all of my other plans. Doesn't it usually? I remember praying about going to college or this program, and weeping in my room when I felt deep in my soul that I was to stay and attend. I gave up my dream of moving to New York. I gave up my dream of studying to become an opera singer. I gave up my dreams in exchange for His. At the time it was the most difficult thing I had ever done, but looking back, it was the wisest choice I could have ever made.

I stayed in my little hometown in New Mexico and it was probably the hardest two years of my life. My friends had moved away, I moved in with a family from the church, I had to break up with Elisha (we weren't allowed to date while in the program), and in every sense of the saying - God was my everything. He was my friend, He was my family. He was my life; all consuming and ever present. I learned how to love Him to depths I could not imagine. These were the years He would pour out my foundation.

I often think back to this time to remember where I began. Because most days I felt like I was unwinding and falling apart, but God was actually putting me back together. I felt like a spool coming undone with it's thread thrown about on the floor, getting all knotted up and displaced, but God was removing the old threads to place me back on the spindle and replace it with new golden thread; thread that was strong and sturdy, beautiful and priceless. Yes, this was my unmaking. And it was also the moments that made me exactly who He wanted me to be.

I remember my graduation night. We were asked to prepare a speech of what the year had meant and I was terrified. I knew what God had done, but I was so scared to share it with the world. It would mean explaining that I wasn't perfect before, and that God had had to do some major work on who I was. I had to admit that I didn't have it all together and what they had previously seen was a lie. So with all the courage I could muster, I wrote my speech and I did so with complete honesty and openness. I talked about who I once was, and how I thought I didn't need changing. Then I talked about how hard it was to come to terms with the fact that I was broken and in need of my loving Savior. And finally I reached the end and shared four words that truly changed everything... I'm a new creation.

And I remember being both humbled and proud in that moment. Humbled because I knew I couldn't have gotten to that place without Jesus, and so aware of my own inadequacies. Proud because I was now standing in front of friends and family a new person, who could admit to my own faults and had learned that my worth was in Him alone.

I was thinking back on this moment as I was reading my Bible today and I came across this very verse. Taking in all of those feelings yet again. Back then I had thought that the period at the end of my sentence meant that it was over; I had become who I needed to become, in order to do what He had called me to do. But truly I had become only the first of many versions of who God was sculpting me to be. I was indeed a new creation, but daily I was becoming new, different, more mature and wise through both the painful and wonderful. I can say today that I am a new creation, and I know tomorrow I will look even more different. And the truth is, I am so satisfied in knowing that I will always be changing. Because I want to grow, and I want more of Him. I want to never lose my sense of awe and wonder at what He has done, and what He promises to do.

So today I hope you'll be encouraged in this - He's not done yet. Yes, He has made you a new creation, but there are still countless facets of His being that you have yet to see. Aspects of your own character that you have yet to let shine. He is drawing out more of who you are, each and every single day.

My bump is finally starting to show! I have felt pregnant since I found out, thanks to the ever present "morning" sickness - which should really be "all day" sickness. However, I feel extra pregnant now that I look the part, ha! It's been so exciting finding new outfits and figuring out what works. I'm loving fitted dresses like this one, and honestly love showing off what little bump I do have.

I received this coat from SHEIN and am just smitten with how cozy and classy it is! Especially because I love basics, and it pairs so well with them.

For all my Mamas out there, where was your favorite place to shop when you were pregnant? I've checked out h&m, ASOS, Madewell, and Target. Anything I'm missing? Share them in the comments below or send me a message!

This year was crazy and beautiful. It was filled with wild uncertainty, insurmountable peace, and an overwhelming sense of God's hand on our lives. We moved to a new city, got new jobs, bought a new car, were welcomed into a new church family, found a place to call home, crossed off a few firsts, and received the best news ever! It feels like a whirlwind and it's hard to think that it all happened in just one year.

I look back on what I was feeling this time last year, and I can't help but laugh. I won't lie, it felt bleak. I was riddled with confusion and fear, but I clung dearly to the promises of the Lord. Today I see how those promises have been fulfilled and I am just amazed at how gloriously faithful my Abba is.

I love looking back on difficult seasons, once I'm through the other side, and pinpointing the moments God's hand was at work; like a game of connect the dots. They brilliantly create a masterpiece; one that I was completely blind to in the moment. All to say, that even now, I believe there are dots that I'm missing. I'm thankful that His ways are far beyond my own, and I can trust and lean on them - even when I can't see them myself.

I loved 2017, and I just really can't wait to see what 2018 will hold for us and our growing family.

These are some of our family photos we took this year. Photos taken by Kalli Photography.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you're in conversation, and you find your yourself being much more open and vulnerable than you're used to? My immediate reaction is usually riddled with fear and thoughts of "What if they don't understand?", "What if they think I'm weird?", "Did that even make sense to them?". But then my discomfort is usually met with two words that melt every bit of anxiousness that has welled up in my heart... "me too". Those sweet words have torn down walls, applied healing ointment to open wounds, shone a light on past scars, and fed my spirit in ways I can't begin to explain.

There's something really beautiful about knowing we're not the only ones; we're not alone. And to be able to admit that you too have been hurt, struggled, failed, fought through, or still feel certain ways, requires great strength. But, when used properly, those two words wield power and might that could only come from our Heavenly Father. They put to use our stories, and shine glory on all our Father has done, while bringing comfort and camaraderie to our sisters.

And yet, it can still be so difficult to say sometimes. Because it requires a level of transparency that many aren't used to or comfortable with. Why is it that we feel the need to show our perfected selves, when it's truly the imperfect that connects us? I've rarely had a conversation with someone that changed my life and perception because of how perfect I thought their life was. I have however had life changing conversations with those who bared their brokenness, and exposed their flaws in a way that resounded with "me too".

While I love a beautifully crafted piece, a perfectly edited photograph, or an eloquently written post, I will be the first to admit that what you see is the 1 out of the 100. That is to say, for every perfect photo you see, there's 99 you don't. For every 1 highlight of my life I share, there are still 99 that aren't so great. And so we must not allow our perception of people to dictate the picture we paint of ourselves. We need more "me too's".

You're not the only one going through what you're going through. You're not the only one facing a decision. You're not the only one who has gotten that doctor's report. You're not the only one who needs an answer from God. You're not the only one who's screwed up. You're not the only one with a past. You're not the only one who struggles with that. You're not the only one who has been hurt. You're not the only one. And knowing that should bring some level of relief, a peace that it has so much less to do with you, and so much more to do with the One who sees you in the midst of it all.

Romans 12:5 | We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

We belong to one another sweet sisters. We need each other! So next time, instead of pretending like you have it all together, try saying "me too", and see if your friendship doesn't deepen. See if God won't bring about healing in your own heart, as you seek to speak healing to your sister's. There's more that He has for us, but we have to dig a little bit deeper - deeper within ourselves - stretching and growing in places that may bring discomfort at first, but a whole new life to come.

We are so unbelievably thrilled to share this wonderful news with everyone! We have waited a good long while to be able to say those two words that changed our whole world - We're pregnant!

I'm not sure where to start this story because I feel like there's so much I could say. When Elisha and I started dating we didn't have any kiddos in our lives - I was the youngest and didn't have any babies growing up around me. So, we were both pretty set on not having kids (which is crazy to think about now). Well, fast forward a few years and some switch flips in me, and literally all I want is a baby (granted we're still dating). So we begin to talk about the future and the possibility of us having a child and it becomes something we both now want. One baby. So around this time Elisha shares a name for our baby and God also shares a really special word about who our child will become. It's from this moment on that a promise is planted deep in my heart (2009).

So we go on dating and referring to our future child by name, and somewhere along the way, the idea of one baby becomes the thought of two babies. And so we decide that our dream is to have two children, and Elisha shares the name of our second child and we refer to them as such.

Fast forward 7 years and we're married and finally ready to give this whole parenting thing a go. And of course, as things do, it takes time, much longer than we hoped or expected. But, all along the way God is reassuring us that His promises are good and He's faithful to keep His word. We are given prophetic words from friends who share dreams that they've seen our children (each as we imagined them) - this happens 4 times. Then we begin having friends randomly text or come up to us and say they've been praying for us to conceive, and that they feel strongly that it's going to happen. This happens for months and months and months.

In the moment it's frustrating because you keep hearing it's gonna happen and then it doesn't, and you naturally want to lose heart, but I just kept going back to those promises, and they honestly carried me through those days.

The month I found out I was pregnant, I actually waited ten days to actually take a pregnancy test, convinced that I would be let down if I did. I remember waking up that morning earlier than usual, and Abba telling me to take the test. I fought him on it. I know there's so many women who can attest to how disheartening it is to take a test and see a negative. I just didn't want to put myself through it again, but I reluctantly made my way to the bathroom cabinet and grabbed a test. All the while prepping myself mentally for another negative.

And before I knew it, I looked down and in seconds it was the clearest positive I could have ever imagined seeing. Immediately I was bawling and thanking the Lord for His faithfulness, apologizing for every moment I ever doubted. I was so overwhelmed with His love.

I wanted to make my announcement to Elisha special, so I went to work (bursting with joy) and during my lunch break I had a collar engraved with the words "Big Sis" to put on Gretchen. I raced home after work and put it on her, anxiously waiting for him to get home and see. His reaction was priceless and one that I will treasure forever. I'm just so excited for this little life and all that it means to our family. I am 12 weeks today and we should find out if we're having a boy or a girl in two weeks.

God is faithful. If you're still waiting sister, trust that His timing is perfect and He sees you! There is purpose in your patience and He is working in your waiting.

Welcome to the new site! I am so excited to finally be able to have a place to catch all aspects of Pie N' the Sky. This has been a long time coming! It feels great to be back and writing this blog. I can't tell you how many times I've thought of doing this, and I'm not sure what finally pushed me back, but I'm glad it did!

So much has happened since I was last here, so let's play a little catch up. Elisha and I moved to Houston! We are the Youth Pastors of Grace Church and we absolutely love it here. We couldn't be more grateful for the season we're in. We announced this last weekend that, WE'RE PREGNANT! We'll be expecting a little one June 2018. I'll share more later, on why this little miracle is so significant to us. We simply cannot wait for their arrival! We should find out if we're having a boy or a girl in about two weeks or so. The PS shop has been mostly filled with Bibles and Mosaic Journals lately - two things that I love to paint! So if you need a Christmas present, check them out. We have a few exciting things on the horizon and I'm excited as ever to share it all with you! Oh, and Gretchen is still the sweetest pup around - you can see more photos of her on instagram #dailygretchen.

The site will be evolving, as I learn the ropes around here, so be sure to check back often. Until then, take a peek around and share your thoughts below! Let me know if there's any kind of posts you'd like to see. Thank you for joining me on this fun blogging journey! Missed y'all!

So, in case you don't follow me on Instagram, you haven't heard the exciting news! I wrote and designed this month's Illustrated Faith Devotional Kit!! I have been over the moon excited this whole week, as it just launched online a few days ago! I am still so blown away that it's actually here.

I was going to write out why this is such a huge blessing, but I figured I would share via video! It's not fancy or edited and I recorded it as soon as I got the sample in the mail! So, excuse the poor lighting and sound.

I love you all so much and I can't wait to see how God uses this devotional to speak to each and every one of you!! There is so much that He has in store for y'all. You can purchase yours here, or click the button on the sidebar!

To be honest, when I "took a break" from blogging, I thought I'd be gone for a couple of weeks or maybe months. I never intended it to be years. That time in my life was filled to the brim with things to do and ultimately I had to make the decision to cut something out of my life - blogging. It was one of the toughest decisions, but one I trusted. Over the last two years I've come back to this space in an attempt to revive that which I had let go of, but I couldn't ever fully commit.

Contrary to what many may believe, running a blog is a lot of work. Or at least if you want it to be successful, it is. So I would begin to type, and then backspace backspace, then type, and after this song and dance, I would exit out of the window and close my laptop and think to myself "maybe some other time".

And so here I am, yet again, trying to do the thing I've failed at so many countless times before. But, I think this time it might stick, because I'm trying to be more intentional - I'm calling this what it is. It's not my comeback. It's not a revival of what once was. It's a starting point. It's a nice to meet you, let's get to know each other. It's a beginning of something that could be special and beautiful.

My blog used to be filled with everything from beauty tips, fashion posts, reviews, life moments, advice, and diys. Which is really what I've struggled with most. I know why many of you are here (I've done the surveys, y'all!), and I don't want to disappoint. But in an effort to please the masses, I think we forget to do what we love. So, in an effort to remember myself, I'm going to choose content based on where I'm at in life.

I'm not feeling the fashion and the beauty, or even the diy. It's all lovely and I appreciate everyone who provides us with fresh inspiration. But I'm craving something deeper. I'm longing for a space that calls something more out of myself; a place for us to meet and talk, and think, and question, and discover. Is that okay? If not, that's quite alright. Know you're always welcome here, but I get that it's not for everyone.

If you've been following me on Instragram during my blogging absence, then you may have noticed a series I started, called #melwritesanote. And I guess that's really the heart of this all. My purpose if you will.

I want to write you notes. I want to write about what I know, what I'm figuring out, and what I have questions about. I want to write about who you are, who you're called to be, and who you're becoming. I want to write about the good stuff, the tough stuff, and the stuff no one else really wants to say. I want to write about the things that reach you where you're at, that speak to your soul, and hit your heart. I want to write to heal, to comfort, to clarify, and to remind you that you're not alone. I want to write.

I've always felt called to write. In fact it was one of the very first things God laid on my heart many many moons ago. And so I think it's finally time.

Hi sweet friends! I'm so excited that Christmas is just three weeks away! I love this time of year for so many reasons, and one of my most recent favorite traditions is sending out family Christmas cards. I can't say enough wonderful things about Tiny Prints! We've partnered with them for the last 3 years for sending out our Christmas cards and every year the designs are even prettier than the last! Here's a peek at our Christmas card this year.

I'm especially in love with the new envelopes they offer! Our address was printed on the back which saved me so much time when addressing. Seriously so in love! I'm all about personalizing and I feel like every piece is so perfectly us.

So we've been in this apartment for about three years now. It's not the biggest space, but it's cozy and we've managed to make it feel like home. We've redecorated and updated a few things over the years, so I wanted to share a peek. There's still a few things we'd like to add, but it's basically a dream come true to me.

One of our newest pieces is this rug. We had the same rug since we moved in, and we got this rug, from Rug Safari Corporation, and it is so perfect for brightening up our space! It is so so soft and Gretchen is definitely a fan.

This space is perfect for cuddling up to watch Neflix, for early morning homework, for reading next to a long dog, for painting on Saturday mornings, and for living life with my sweet little family.